MOSCOW

Russia on Thursday announced the closure of its airspace for civilian flights on the western border with Ukraine and Belarus.

A Notice to Airmen or Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) was published after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in the Donbas region.

“The use of airspace on Russia's western border with Ukraine and Belarus has been temporarily suspended due to the high threat to the safety of flights of civilian aircraft after the use of weapons and military equipment," a statement said.

In another statement on Thursday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it is using “high-precision weapons” to disable air defense systems, military airports, and air force in Ukraine.

Russia has launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine and is targeting key areas in cities with weapons and missiles, according to reports.